(Photo courtesy: Saguisag PH)

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado appealed to the local governments of Taguig and Makati City to work together to have a smooth transition in connection with the final decision of the Supreme Court (SC) that sets the 729-hectare Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation where Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is located and some barangays in Makati City are under the jurisdiction of Taguig City.

"The decision is now final and executory. All must respect the decision which the SC itself rendered after decades of litigation. Taguig and Makati should work together to ensure a smooth transition so that services will not be disrupted," said Mercado.

Earlier, SC Spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said that due to the released final decision of the SC on the land dispute, it will no longer accept any pleadings, motions, letters or any communication regarding the said issue.

Hosaka also clarified that the last appeal of the Makati City Government in its filed Omnibus Petition that still requests to resolve the land dispute by the Supreme Court En Banc has also been dismissed due to lack of merit.

In the SC's decision, it said that Taguig is the one that covers the territory in question based on historical, documentary and testimonial evidence, Fort Bonifacio is covered by the 729 hectare jurisdiction of Taguig City including Barangay Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo , West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo as well as the Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines' headquarters, Consular area, JUSMAG area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and 6 other villages next to it.

The SC decision also stated that Makati City will pay the expenses incurred in the land dispute case.

Taguig City hopes that Makati City will cooperate for the transition of public service to the former residents of Makati who will now be called Taguigeños. (PIA-NCR)